Police offer Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters

Tuesday

Oct 29, 2013 at 11:39 AM

Kevin Dickinson

"Remember it is Halloween, so you might get a trick as well as a treat," Police Chief Brian Bowles said. Yet, some forethought combined with common sense safety tips can keep the chances of evening-ruining tricks low.To promote a safer Halloween, the Yreka Police Department will hand out glow sticks to trick-or-treaters. Those who wish to nab a few can stop by the police station on Miner Street. Marked police cars will also be passing them out."We'll be giving those out in an effort to make sure everyone can be seen," Bowles said. "It's kind of hard not to tell kids to dress in black, but they should wear light colors if at all possible and have a flashlight or glow stick to be seen at night."The police department plans to close the 500-600 blocks of South Oregon Street to vehicle traffic from 3-10 p.m. because the neighborhood receives so many trick-or-treaters. Bowles said an unofficial headcount from last year tallied 1,300 visitors.For parents worried about questionable candy items, Bowles said they can call a candy safety hotline at 1-800-433-1200. He said the number will have experts on hand to determine "whether the suspected piece of candy is a concern to be further investigated or a common and harmless result of shipping process." Parents should always check their children's candy. If they find anything unusual, Bowles said, parents should call police.Other tips for having a safe and enjoyable Halloween are:– Be careful when crossing the street. Make sure no cars are coming. Parents should hold younger children's hands.– Never go into a stranger's house or car.– Parents should keep children in a clear line of sight; kids should do the same with their parents.– Children should let parents know where they are going and have a game plan. Bowles said tracking features on phones can help keep tabs on children.– People should go out in groups.– Parents should know specifically what their kids are wearing. – Trick-or-treaters should be able to see out of their masks. If they cannot, they should pull it off their face until they reach the doorway to trick-or-treat.– Make sure costumes don't drag too much from behind.– Do not eat baked items unless you know and trust the people handing them out.– If partying, have a safe plan for how to get home.Bowles said he encourages drivers to cruise 5 to 10 miles under the speed limit, especially when little ones are out, before and after dark. Extra officers will be on Halloween for heavy traffic enforcement."I hope everybody has fun," Bowles said, adding "It's very important for every kid to get as much candy as possible."